Update: This article was last updated on 31st January 2025 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
Do you know that on an average a user spends 2 hours and 31 minutes daily on social media? How wonderful and risky such a constant connection can be?
Social media is a dynamic tool through which individuals can connect to the rest of the world; in 2021, the number of active users worldwide on social media has reached more than 4.26 billion people. It forms an integral part of today’s youth.
Definition of Social Media
Social media is a digital communication system that provides us with technological tools to share ideas, exchange information, etc. through text, images, videos, and links within virtual networks.
Examples of popular social media include the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
These platforms usually enable real-time interaction, collaboration, and building of online communities, where users can connect, communicate, and share different forms of content, including text, images, videos, and links.
Popular Social Media Platforms for Pre-teens and Teenagers:
- Telegram
- YouTube
- TikTok
Social Media Usage Involves Uploading and Sharing Content, which further includes:
- Creating an individual online profile
- Posting images, videos and chatting
- Liking, commenting, and sharing options
- Tagging friends in photos and blogs
Social media, as any invention does, has two sides: positives and negatives. If it increases connectivity with the world, increases the speed of information flow, reduces distances among people, becomes a great marketplace, and can be a showcase for talents across the globe, it also leads to some unhealthy side effects: people get scammed, kids become addicted to screens, the invasion of one’s private world, and much more.
Social Media Trends in 2024-25
To stay informed as parents of the latest trends and features on social media platforms that might impact your children, here are some trends to watch for in 2024:
Rise of Private Communities
Platforms are introducing private groups and channels for safer communication. Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram keep augmenting to improve their features on private family and community chats.
AI-Driven Personalization
Algos of social media get more sophisticated; they personalize information for individual users. This leads to a greater user experience, but it increases the chances of addictive scrolling behaviors.
Augmented Reality (AR) Filters
Instagram and Snapchat are giving AR filters prominence. These become fun, though excessive use builds unrealistic beauty standards.
Educational Features
The YouTube and TikTok apps drive educational content for learning. Therefore, it should be monitored and not be misused as distractions.
Table of Social Media Pros and Cons
| Benefits of Social Media | Drawbacks of Social Media |
|---|---|
| Targets large audiences, effective tool for society | Creates echo chambers and leads to the polarization of opinions, and scams. |
| Connects people worldwide | Heightened privacy concerns and increased risks of personal information exposure and misuse. |
| Facilitates remote learning and skill acquisition | The challenge of maintaining focus and engagement. |
| The rapid spread of information | Risk of information overload, dissemination of misleading information, and spread of fake news, among other challenges. |
| Bridges distance, keeps people updated globally | It can be addictive and impact children's academic performance, concentration, social activities, and family interactions. |
| Valuable job and professional networking tool. | Vulnerability to security threats due to privacy concerns. |
| Effective marketing and cost-saving for businesses | Prone to unwanted attention, both positive and negative. |
| Showcases the talent and skills of artists. | The possibility of picking up undesirable habits. |
| Enables politicians to communicate with constituents | The susceptibility to misinformation and manipulation can impact the democratic discourse and decision-making process. |
| Educational platform aids in answering questions | Potential for associated issues such as adverse effects on mental health and increased screen time. |
| Raises awareness about societal issues. | Risk of slacktivism or clicktivism |
| Connects distant family and friends | Fear of superficial connections. Risk weakening the depth of relationships. |
Tips For Parents
Responsible Phone Usage: Nurturing Healthy Digital Habits in Children
Attempt to replicate the desired behavior:
- When you provide your child with his or her first phone, establish clear boundaries. Install parental controls on his or her phone. This also ought to include access to passwords.
- Phones need to be charged in a place other than their bedroom at night and should be turned off an hour or two before bed.
- Talk to your children about why some things should not be shared.
- Spend quality time with your children. This relationship helps children learn to identify and react to verbal and non-verbal social cues.
- Talk to your children without looking at your phone.
- Seek opportunities to have real conversations rather than lectures.
- Be cautious of privacy and cyber security risks.
Safe Apps for Pre-teens and Teenagers
Not all social media is kid-friendly. These are some of the safer, more educational choices:
- YouTube Kids: A kid-friendly version with appropriate videos for the age group.
- Kikori: A child-friendly application designed to enable social-emotional learning.
- PopJam: This is a monitored social media for children to share content safely.
- Pinterest: a space for imagination and creativity related to ideas, crafts, or hobbies, used responsibly with safety features enabled.
- Duolingo: Although not social media per se, this application allows children to connect with their peers while learning new languages.
How to Develop a Balanced Use of Social Media
- Balancing online and offline life is of paramount importance, especially for children and teenagers. Here are some actionable tips:
- Set Screen Time Limits: Utilize parental controls or device settings to limit the daily use of social media to 1-2 hours.
- Encourage Offline Activities: Hobbies like sports, reading, or art would keep a healthy balance.
- Family Time: Establish screen-free family time every day to engage on a deeper level with each other and to establish role-modeling behaviors.
- Digital Detox Days: Periodic “tech-free” days allow children to discover the fun of offline activities.
- Guide Critical Thinking: Help children become critical thinkers on whether the information is authentic and understand how too much exposure to social media is impacting their mental well-being.
Conclusion
Now that we have understood the pros and cons of social media, we should make kids and teenagers aware of the usage of social media and age recommendations. Parents should also make them aware of potential risks related to social media.
They should keep a close eye on their children’s social media activities and educate them about online privacy, cyberbullying, and other related issues. This will help in reducing the risks.
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Ever noticed how we can learn cool stuff from social media? What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned online recently?
I recently discovered an awesome DIY science experiment on social media. Using household items, I learned how to make a mini volcano that actually erupts! It was not only super fun but also taught me about chemical reactions. So cool!
what’s your golden rule for using social media safely and having a blast while doing it?
My golden rule for using social media safely is to always be cautious about sharing personal information. It’s important to double-check privacy settings and think before posting. And of course, always spread positivity and kindness!